Duluth’s Northland News Center, which is a site for Duluth’s CBS, NBC, CW and ‘MyNetwork’ affiliate television outlets, provokes today’s big headsmack with their article “BICYCLE RIDING DEATHS UP IN MN.”

While the article does include some fatality statistics for the state, I’m relatively sure that the safety message being put out by Susan Koschak, the chair of the Statewide Non-Motorized Advisory Committee, didn’t include the OMG YOU WILL ALL DIE tilt. The DPS official quoted also is quoted on safety, although the fatality figure (average of 8 cyclist deaths/year) is a DPS number.

Just as a comparison, DPS reports 72 motorcyclist deaths in 2008, and 416 car accident deaths in 2009. Obviously, working towards 0 in all columns is important, but you rarely see the attachment of OMG DANGER! attached in the same way to these other modes of transport.

Northland News also inserts a “use bike paths!” comment, even though DPS and MNDOT share the 8 principles of the Share the Road Minnesota campaign, all of which focus on appropriate and legal use of roadways by cyclists.

I’m blaming this all on Northland, as the state agencies quoted are typically right on and supportive of the Share the Road principles and Minnesota statutes on bicyclists. Education of all roadway users – and not breathless sharing of noncontextual fatality statistics – is the key to cyclist safety on the roads. All a headline of this nature does is forward a not-especially-subtle bias against cyclists’ road rights.

The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota will be offering a Traffic Skills course on May 15 and May 16, 2009, in Duluth. Course completion requires attendance on both dates.

As part of the National Rally of Bicyclists, there will be a Traffic Skills course on July 31, 2009, in Winona.

Two instructor certification clinics will be offered in Minneapolis in late July. Traffic Skills 101 completion is a pre-requisite. Local instructors plan to provide additional TS101 opportunities this summer for those interested in the certification.

1. Water is always available. Cheap yellow beer is always available. Don’t count on anything more. I’ve found that carrying a ziploc with enough Gatorade powder or even those ‘single serve’ TANG packets designed for use with bottled water is really helpful. (Note to the unfamiliar: I love TANG. If it’s nutritious enough for astronauts, it’s good enough for me!)
2. Know that a bar may be your best stop opportunity. In the country, everything is a bar, often with off/on-sale, and propane exchange. If you get water and use a restroom, try to buy a Snickers or something. Be nice to the nice proprietors, who think your nice little spandex pants are a little bit fruity.
3. Watch out for cow turds in the road. This is self-explanatory.
4. Railroad crossings are often pretty old-school in a lot of rural areas, meaning they eat tires. Watch for the signs and be prepared to slow, stop, and even carry that bike across.
5. Carry a bit more than a tube and a patch kit. I recommend electrical tape. There are only about 5 things that can’t be fixed with electrical tape (exaggeration).

None of this should suggest opposition to the country. Some of my best riding experiences have been deeply rural. I’ve had Mennonite families refill my water bottle and give me apples. You don’t get that in Minneapolis. But you need to be more prepared, or be with some prepared people, in the country. There are fewer rescue points, and if you get stranded or bonk… hoo.

People occasionally ask me how I make running the event look so easy. This is my 7th year on committee. I have methods. I have techniques. I delegate madly.